moore



4 Sheets-Sheet 3. 0. 0; MOORE 85 T. J. PITZSIMMONS.

(No Model.)

(No Model.) I 4 Sheets-Sheet 4. C. O. MOORE 81; 'I'. J. FITZSIMMONS.

: TRANSPLANTING- MACHINE. N0. 526,406. Patented Sept. 25, 1894;

l UNITED, "STATES PATENT Orinoco CHESTER O. MOORE AND THOMAS JOSEPH FITZSIMMONS, OF FRUITLAND,

" IOWA. j

TRANSPLANTING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of we... recent No. 526,406,dated September25, 1894. Application filed December 3, 1893- Serial No. 493,111. (Nomodel.

To allwhom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, CHESTER O. MOORE and THOMAS JOSEPH FI'IZSIMMONS,citizens of the United States, residing at Frnitland,in the county ofMuscatine and State of Iowa, have invented a new and usefulTransplanting-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in transplanting-machines, theobjects in view being to produce a machine of cheap and simpleconstruction, consisting of comparatively few parts, and which isadapted to form the furrow and at regular intervals set therein plants,and to subsequently cover the plants; and also-to provide for aconvenient adjustment of the parts under the control of the p 1 erator.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will appearin thefollowing description and the novel features thereof will beparticularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawingsz Figure 1 is a perspective view'of a machineembodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectionalview of the machine. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation. Fig. 4 is a transversevertical sectional view in front of the discharge-spout. Fig. 5 is avertical transverse sectional view through the discharge-spout. Fig. 6is a longitudinal sectional view through the supporting blocks of theshort longitudinal coveringwheel supporting shafts. Fig. 7 is an innerelevation of the central portion of one of the ground-wheels. Fig. 8 isa detail perspective view of one of the covering-wheel journals.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of thedrawings.

7 In practicing our invention we employ a front axle 1, upon which arelocated groundwheels 2, the said axle being secured to the under side ofa fifth-wheel 3, and pivoted by a king-bolt 4.,t0 a bolster 5. Thisbolster 5 supports a frame 6 in which there is mounted in this instancea cylindrical water-tank 7 in whose upperenda strainerS is located. Tothe hounds-the draft-pole 10 is secured in the usual-manner; A rear axle11 is also employed, andupon the same is loosely mounted I ground-wheels12, the same being connected 50 .With' the axle by a'pawl andratchet-mechanismof the usual construction, whereby when theground-wheels move forward the axle is turned and when moving backwardthe axle remains stationary.

Supporting-plates 13 are arranged upon the axle and are provided upontheir under sides with bearing-boxes for the accommodation of said axle.These supporting-plates are surmounted by standards 15, and a pair oflongitudinal sills 16 are arranged thereon, and at their front ends arebolted to the frame that supports the water-tank. The rear ends of thesills are connected by a transverse sill 17. r

Pivotally connected at 18 and 19 to the sills 16 are respectively frontand rear inverted L-shaped hangers 20 and 21, whose lower ends arepivoted thereto in an adjustable manner by means of bolts 22 passedthrough any one of a pair of perforations 23 formed in the hangers 20.

Abail 25 is pivotally connected to the front pair of hangers 20 andjournaled above the same in transversely'opposite bearings .26 is acrank-shaft 27, the same having its crankportion 28 connected by a chain29 to the aforesaid bail. One end of the shaft projects beyond thebearing 26 and is bent to form a lever 30 which may be depressed towardthe front end of the machine and engaged by the locking-pin 31, wherebyit will beobvious the hangers are elevated as is also the mechanismsupported thereby. On the other hand, by disengaging the link with thefree-end of the lever, the hangers, together with the mechanism carriedthereby and hereinafter described, are lowered to an operative position.

The sidebars 24 are connected at their front and rear ends bytie-bolts'32 and 33 respectively, and between their ends by a transversetie-bolt 35. The latter bolt has mounted thereon a pair of boxes 36which are adj ustable upon the bolt by means of binding-bolts 37 passedtherethrough and bearing against the aforesaid bolt 35. The blocks 36are further provided at their rear sides with vertical slots 38, theopposite sides of which are provided with a series of perforations 39,in any pair of whicha transverse pin 40,m'aybe hopper 71.

arranged. Bearing-boxes 41, are located upon the rear tie-bolt 33, andinto these boxes are threaded the rear ends of a pair of shortlongitudinal shafts 42, the same being keyed therein so as to be rigid.The front ends of these short shafts 42 terminate in vertically slottedclevises 43, which pass into the slotsi and by this constructioncovering wheels are transversely pivotally adjusted. Each of thesestub-axles 47 carries a covering-wheel 50 which is adapted to looselyrotate thereon. These covering wheels are capable of swinging inward andoutward transversely to eifect the desired adjustment. I

To the front bolt 32 there is loosely connected the upper ends of a pairof braces 51,

which at their rear ends are, by means of a bolt 52, secured to theopposite sides of a pair of diverging branches of a shoe .53. Inclinedbraces 54 are also'secured at their upper ends to the bolt 32 and attheir lower ends to the bolt 52. The branches of the shoe are providedupon their exterior sides with inclined deflecting-wings 55, which limitthe depth of penetration of the shoe and also serve to level off thefurrow produced thereby. A transverse axle 56 is located between thecurved braces in advance .of the shoe, and

the same supports a colter-wheel 57, adapted to travel in front of theshoe and clear away the trash that may lie in its path.

A faucet 59, is located at the rear end of the water-tank and connectedto the faucet is a flexible hose 60, which extends rearward to a pointover the shoe and terminates in a nozzle 61 let into the shoe at theupper end thereof and located above an inclined wedgeshaped spreadingplate 63. A pair of pulleys 64, are located upon the front and rearsides and at the upper edge of the water-tank, and over these passes alight rope 65, the front end of which is connected at 66 to thedraftpole, and the rear end of which has attached thereto a sheave orpulley 67, through which the flexible hose runs. It will be obvious thatfrom this construction when the front wheels are turned at an angle, aswhen turning the machine, the light rope will be drawn outward by thedraft tongue and consequently the flexible hose arched or elevated to apoint above the front ground-wheels, and hence cannot beinjured bycontacting therewith. y

Located in the rear end of the machine is an inclined gradually taperedorconical spout 70, which at its upper end is flared to form a The lowerend of the hopper takes between the branches of the shoe and is pivotedtheretoby a transverse bolt 72. A pair of straps 73 are'likew'ise boltedto the shoe, and at their upper ends are perforated for the passagetherethrough of the transverse intermediate tie-bolt 35. The hopper issubdivided longitudinally by a partition 74, and at its opposite sidesits wall is slotted at 75. A band 76 encircles the dischargespout abovethe shoe and is provided with sockets 76' in which are fitted the lowerends of a pair of opposite curved springs 77, whose upper ends passthrough keepers 78 located at opposite sides of the hopper and extendinto the latter through the openings before mentioned. The free ends ofthese springs bear against the under sides of and support a pair ofhinged cut-ofis 79 whose outer edges are hinged at 80 to the outer upperedges of the hopper.

Bearings 81, are located upon the supporting-plates of the rear axle,and in each is journaled a rock-shaft 82, the front ends of which areinwardly and upwardly bent as at 83 and the rear ends of which areupwardly and rearwardly bent as at 84 and take between the springs andthe sides of the hopper. The rear axle is provided at each side of itscenter with a disk 85, and each disk is provided with one or more curvedslots 86. Tappets 87, to any number required, are removably and adjustably secured to the inner faces of the disks by means of bolts 88 andare designed to alternately strike the rock-shafts and press themoutward so as to cause them to force the springs away from the hopperand from their supporting positions with relation to the cutoffs, andthus release the latter, whereby they may drop by gravity.

Seats 89 are located at the opposite sides of the hopper for theaccommodation of the feeders or attendants.

The front wall of the discharge spout above the shoe is provided with atransverse slot 90 and extending from the outside into and below theslot is a tension-plate 91.

The tension plate is disposed longitudinally of the discharge spout at aslight angle thereto, and it gradually contracts and diminishes the sizeof the same. The outer end of the plate extends upward in front of thedischarge spout and has interposed therebetween a coiled-spring 92 whosetension is regulated by means of an adjustingscrew 93, passing through aperforation in the plate and the spout.

A spring 95 depends from the bar 17 and is connected to rod 33 by chain96. The spring 95 is curved, and extends rearward, and the chain 96inclines downward and forward therefrom, its upper end being connectedto the lower end of the spring.

This completes the construction of the machine and the operation thereofis as follo ws It will be seen that in order to throw the machine intooperative position the crank-shaft is first lowered, the lover of saidshaft being disengaged from said locking-link in the mannerbeforementioned. This operation brings the colter in contact with the groundand as the machine moves along the colter cuts through the trash andforms a path or kerf,

which facilitates the formation of the furrow by the shoe that followsthereafter. In a manner hereinafter described the plants are dropped atintervals into the shoe and deposited into the furrow thus. formed,their dropping being immediately followed by the I planting-Wheels whichtend to throw up the earth and produce adrill or row. It will also beseen that at the time that the furrow is formed a spray of water will bedeposited in the bottom thereof so as to freshen the roots of the plantdeposited in the furrow. The

depth of the furrowwill be regulated in a great measure by the flangesor wings at the sides of the shovel, which also tend to smooth offthesame.

It will be obvious that by reason of the manner of mounting thecovering-wheels, that is upon shafts that are permitted to have a slightvertical play, the said wheels will bear conveniently at each side ofthe furrow and are capable of passing over undulations therein.

The attendants are mounted upon the seats at the opposite sides of thehopper, and as fast as necessary place the plants root down upon thecutoffs, which as shown, are, at intervals alternately permitted to dropthe plants, sliding down the discharge-spout and which secure them inposition.

vious that the tappets on the tappet-wheels being deposited by the shoesin the bottom of the furrow as the same is formed and being immediatelyfollowed by the covering-wheels It will be obcise details ofconstruction herein shownand described, but hold that we may vary thesame to any degree and extent within the knowledge of the skilledmechanic. Curved guards 97 may depend from the bolt 32 and be bolted attheir rear ends to the sides of the shoe 53, for the purpose ofdepressing down all trash from the path of the shoe while being cut bythe colter.

Having described our invention, what We claim is 1. In a machine of theclass described, the combination with the front and rear axles,

the former being pivoted, of a framework supported by the axles, a tanksupported by the front axle, a transplanting mechanism, a flexible hoseextending from the tank to the transplanting mechanism, a tongue securedto the front axle, and devices operated by the tongue for elevating thehose to prevent contact with the front wheels when the front axle isturned, substantially as specified.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with the frontand rear axles, the former being pivoted, of a framework supported bythe axles, a tank supported by the front axle, a transplantingmechanism, a

flexible hose extending from the tank to the transplanting mechanism, atongue secured to the front axle, pulleys arranged upon the tank, a ropepassing through the pulleys and connected to the tongue, and a sheaveconnected to the rear end of the ropeand loosely receiving the hose,substantially as specified.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination with the frontaxle, the fifth wheel surmounting the same, the bolster surmounting thefifth wheel, the circular frame: work surmounting thebolster, anda tankarranged in the framework, of a rear axle, the framework surmounting thesame, the transplanting mechanism arranged therein, and a hose leadingfromthe tank to the transplant- 1 ing mechanism, substantially asspecified.

4. In a machine of the class described, the

combination with the depending inverted L- shaped hangers arranged inpairs, the frame at the lower end of the same, and the transplantingmechanism carried by the frame,

of the transversely. opposite bearings, the cranked shaft arranged inthe bearings and having a handle at one end, means for locking thehandle in a depressed position, a bail connected to the front hangersand a chain between the bail and the cranked portion of the shaft,substantially as specified.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with theframework, and furrowforming and plant-dropping devices, of a pair oflongitudinally-disposed shafts pivoted at their rear ends and havingtheir front ends loosely mounted and capable of a limited swingingmovement, sleeves mounted on the shafts and provided withtransversely-dis posed stub-shafts and capable of rotary adjustment onthe longitudinal shafts to arrange the stub-shafts inthe desiredposition, and a pair of covering wheels journaled on the stub-shafts,substantially as described.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination with theframework, and the furrow-forming and plant dropping mechanism, of apair of slotted blocks arranged at the sides of said mechanism, a pairof rear pivoted blocks, shafts secured to the rear blocks and engagingthe slots of the front blocks, means for adjustably securing the shaftsin the front blocks, sleeves arranged on the shafts and provided attheir sides with IIO stub-shafts, binding-screws for the sleeves, andcovering-wheels for the stub-shafts, substantially as specified.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination with the frontand rear axles, the framework supported thereby, the depending hangers,the opposite side-bars conmeeting the hangers, and the tie-boltsconnecting the crossrods, of the furrow-forming and plant-droppingmechanisms between the side-bars, the vertically slotted blocks arrangedon one of the tie-bolts, a pair of loose blocks upon the rear tie-bolt,the front blocks being provided with vertical slots having a series ofperforations, and removable lockingpins passing through theperforations, short longitudinal shafts having their rear ends rigidlysecured in the rear blocks, and their front ends terminating invertically slotted clevises engaged loosely by the pins, substantiallyas specified.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with the frontand rear axles,

the superimposed sills, the pivoted hangershaving perforations in theirlower ends, means for raising and lowering the hangers, the oppositeside-bars, adjusting-bolts connecting the same with the perforations inthe hangers, tie-bolts for the side-bars, a furrowt'orming shoe securedto the intermediate tiebolt, braces between the front tie-bolt, and thefurrow-forming shoe, a colter located between the braces, oppositecovering-wheels in,

rear of the shoe, and a discharge-spout lead ing from the upper end ofthe machine to a point between the blades of the shoe, substantially asspecified.

9. In a machine of the class described, the

combination with the superimposed side-sills, the front and rear axles,their ground-wheels, depending hangers, the opposite connectingside-bars, and the front, rear, and interme diate tie-bolts, of a shoelocated below the intermediate tie-bolt, straps connecting the same withsaid tie-bolt, inclined and curved stub-shafts and capable oflongitudinal and rotary adjustment to arrange the stub-shafts in thedesired position, and a pair of covering wheels arranged on thestub-shafts, substantially as described.

11. In a machine of the class described, the

combination with the framework,-and plant-,

ing devices, of a discharge spout, subdivided at the top, a pair ofinclined downwardly swinging cutofis arranged within the discharge spoutat the top thereof, springs supporting the cutoffs, tappet wheels, androckshafts actuated by the tappet wheels and arranged to engage the saidsprings, whereby the supports are withdrawn from the cutoffs,substantially as and for the purpose described.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination with theframework, and the planting mechanism, of a discharge spout having atransverse slot between its ends, a tension plate passed through theslot and at its upper outer end exten ding above the same, the

inner lower portion of the tension plate being disposed longitudinallyof the discharge chute and arranged at an angle thereto and graduallycontracting the same a spring introduced between the upper end of theplate and the discharge spout, and an adj usting-bolt passed through thespring and plate, substantially as specified.

18. In a machine of the class described, the combination with theframework, supporting axles and wheels, the furrow-forming shoe, andcovering wheels, of the superimposed discharge spout terminating at itsupper end in a hopper, and longitudinally subdivided, the hingedcut-ofis at the upper end of the spout, a band encircling the spout, thesprings fixed in sockets in the band and extending through slots in thehopper and taking under the cutoffs and normally supporting the same,tappet-wheels arranged on the axle, and rockshafts arranged in the pathof the tappetwheels and having their rear ends engaging the inner sidesof the springs, substantially as specified.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have heretoaffixed our signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHESTER O. MOORE. THOMAS JOSEPH FI'IZSIMMONS.

Witnesses:

J. CHENOWETH, J. S. MCKEE.

